In the Absence of Childhood
So, I’m kind of at a loss as to what to write about this particular piece. It hardly seems fair to critique or even analyze the traumatic recollections contained in the diary. As someone who has never experienced that side of a war, or even really had my daily life impacted by one my country started elsewhere, I do not feel qualified to offer anything more than my abject horror about Zlata’s ordeal.
I will say that, at the tender age of 11, Zlata already had a greater command of images and symbolism than I could ever hope to possess. Her use of irony in describing the politicians as “kids” was almost humorous. That is, until you remember that their actions are resulting in the slaughter of innocent people. “The ‘kids’ are trying to come to some agreement again. They’re drawing maps, coloring with their crayons, but I think they’re crossing out human beings, childhood and everything that’s nice and normal” (Filipovic 167).
Zlata was forced to grow up and abandon childish whimsy as a result of the war. Meanwhile, the politicians continued to tantrum and perpetuate that loss. What was most shocking to me about this was her total awareness of the situation. “...You can’t hide all the bad things that are happening from us children” (Filipovic 27). She is not only aware that her childhood has been stolen, she is (justifiably) bitter about it. The degree of maturity with which she handled events was absolutely staggering. “...You have to be brave and stay with those you love and those who love you” (Filipovic 36). But what makes these admonishments all the more heartbreaking is when her more childish nature slips out. Like when she talks about missing school or when she and a friend found joy “rollerskating in the lobby of their building. It’s not bad!” (Filipovic 61). These subtle reminders that she is a child make her forced maturity that much more depressing. “In short, a child without a childhood” (Filipovic 61).
We also see her more “childish” tendencies come out whenever she discusses her pets. She leans on Cici and Cicko as scraps of normality in a decidedly abnormal environment. Unfortunately, the war took them too. The only “pet” to survive is the faceless Jovo, her “own tiresome sniper [who] was in a playful mood today” (Filipovic 133).
The same is true of birthdays which the neighborhood family insists on observing in the best way that they can. But even in the midst of celebrating and her child-like joy her maturity comes through. “That’s how we celebrate birthdays… We try to brighten up this life of ours, a life that’s getting harder and harder by the day… this isn’t life, it’s an imitation of life” (Filipovic 80). I mean, talk about a gut punch. It’s remarkable that she is even aware of this at 11, let alone able to articulate it. Her entire mentality is tainted by the forced maturity of war.
As a mother of two daughters, I found this novel particularly hard to stomach (I ran into the same emotional wall while reading Sold). Seeing Zlata forced into adulthood as a result of the political differences of powerful authorities really just infuriated me. Zlata’s story is a stark reminder that living in a “modern” world does not mean atrocities do not still occur.
Works Cited:
Filipovic, Zlata. Zlata’s Diary. The Penguin Group, 2006.
I thought your comparison between Cici and Cicko and the sniper that terrorizes Zlata and her city very interesting. It amazes me that Zlata thinks about the sniper in a way that almost diminishes his actions and the threat he poses. I'm sure Zlata is afraid of him, but instead of writing about how she doesn't know if she will be shot walking down the street, she instead calls him "tiresome" and says when he decides to rattle off a few shots one day he is in a "playful mood." You're right, she does treat him as if he is an annoying puppy who is just a thorn in her side. Zlata has so much to deal with in her daily life that these passing words about the sniper make it seem like she hardly gives him any thought at all, which is pretty terrifying.
ReplyDeleteI am with you, I didn't know much to say about this piece, simply because it is heartbreaking to think that such a young individual had to endure so much pain and heartbreak. Her friends left her, moved away, some individuals that she had known even died. It is terrifying to read this book knowing that these are true events, and that Zlata actually went through the experiences she talks about in the diary.
ReplyDeleteIt is hard to read the beginning of the diary, before the war, and seeing how good her childhood was, and then changing our whole view points when the war starts. She lived a normal life and had no clue that it was about to change forever. I was heartbroken reading about the passing of her childhood friend Nina, "Nina I will always remember you as a wonderful little girl... Nina, an innocent eleven year old little girl- the victim of a stupid war." (43.) Throughout the book, she continues to talk about how stupid war is, and that , "...I think we "young" would do it better. We certainly wouldn't have chosen war." (97.) Seeing that she has to think about these things, things that young children shouldn't have to think about, is so sad to me. She did have to grow up at such a young age- she lost her childhood throughout the war.